Why Tracking Your Macros Matter
Why should you be tracking macros?
First, what are your macronutrients? Fat, protein, and carbohydrates.
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Why do you need fat when tracking macros?
Why do you need fat? Fats are great for mood, brain function, and health, and they are also super important for satiety, which is feeling fuller longer.
There are healthy fats, like avocados, avocado oil, olive oil, coconut oil, nuts, and seeds, which have your omega 3s. But there are some very unhealthy fats that I’m going to encourage you to avoid. Those are your seed oils like sunflower and safflower, which lead to inflammation in the body.
Try to avoid those as much as possible, as well as hydrogenated fats that come from fried foods, processed packaged food and from fast food.
Why are carbohydrates important when tracking macros?
Let’s look at your carbohydrates, why are those so important? Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for your body. They are converted into glucose, which then is transferred into the cell for energy, and all the cells in the body need energy to function.
Carbohydrates. Which ones are they? There are simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates, but basically we’re talking about fruit, vegetables, and sweets. Even baked goods are carbohydrates, but not necessarily healthy ones, right? Cereals, rice, lentils, quinoa, all those fall under carbohydrates.
The essential macro – Protein
And then protein. Protein to me is just so essential to feel fuller longer and to build lean muscle, especially as you age. Protein is essential for healthy skin, hair, and nails, and for hormone production. And most women tend to under eat on protein, and they see things like hair falling out, lack of energy, and they’re hungry all the time.
What is the importance of tracking macros – fat, carbs, and protein?
I just consider it to be like a budget. Let’s say you’re budgeting for your groceries, entertainment, and your rent. Well, if you put money into an envelope with those labeled that way, and you start spending it on the groceries and then you get to the end of it and you’re like, “oh, we don’t have any money left for groceries…”
You didn’t realize that, right? Same thing with your food, with your fat, carbohydrates, and protein. You may be way overspending or way underspending and not realize it. So when you start to keep track of those macros, you are more cognizant, and then you know, “oh, okay, I’m not eating enough protein, and I need to change that.”
How much protein?
Here’s rule of thumb for how much you should be eating in protein. If you are not very active, 0.6 grams per pound of body weight is a good place to start. If you are active and you are building muscle, then about 1 gram per pound of body weight is suggested.
Now knowing the importance of tracking your macros, you’ll probably realize that you have been really under eating protein. I hope that this has been helpful, and if you have questions, please let me know.